Pitt Football: Who will Panthers topple in 2018?

Pitt football has relished the role of spoiler in the final weeks of the past two seasons. Who will fall victim to the Panthers’ penchant for upsets in 2018?

Death. Taxes. Pitt football beating someone they have no business beating in November. The Panthers haven’t come close to being a College Football darkhorse, but they have done the best they could to play spoiler in recent history.

First, it was No. 2 Clemson in 2016. Trailing by eight in the fourth quarter, Saleem Brightwell intercepted Deshaun Watson, setting up a James Connor touchdown run to cut the deficit to two points. After an unsuccessful 2-point conversion Pitt’s defense held, setting up a 48-yard field goal. With the game hanging in the balance, Chris Blewitt drove it through the uprights to knock off the Tigers.

Clemson would still make the College Football Playoff that season. Pitt’s next November casualty, Miami in 2017, would not. Like the Tigers the year before, the Hurricanes entered the late-season tilt with Pitt expecting an easy win before being rudely awaken.

Miami led 7-3 early in the second quarter but after that, it was all Pitt. Three touchdowns, all by way of Panther quarterback Kenny Pickett put Pitt up 24-7 in the fourth quarter. Miami still had the chance at a Playoff berth, but couldn’t get past Clemson the week later in the ACC Championship Game.

So who’s next? Pitt plays three road games in November (Virginia on Nov. 2, Wake Forest on Nov. 17 and Miami on Nov. 24). They host Virginia Tech on Nov. 10. If the Hokies can get past Florida State and Notre Dame earlier in the season they’ll be in the Playoff mix by the time they travel to Lane Stadium this fall.

Virginia Tech was a 10-point home favorite against Pitt last season but trailed the Panthers in the fourth quarter. It took a late touchdown and a goalline stand for Justin Fuente‘s Hokies to escape with a victory. They won’t be so lucky in 2018. Will they be the No. 2 team in the nation by then? Probably not. But Pitt doesn’t care. They’re just sticking with tradition.